JP - The Keep - The Green

Lek was doing his usual morning training before breakfast, carrying heavy bars as he ran along the Keep walls. His mind was in turmoil. Pinja had given birth a month ago, and as he had feared it had changed nothing. She was still afraid of all men including him, so he continued to stay away from her. He asked Millie and Miyuki about her, and how she was doing. She was recovering physically, but still the same emotionally. He had no chance. Lek wiped sweat from his face as he jogged up the stairs of Wolf Tower.

It was later that Miyuki would take the time to climb the stairs, taking small breaks so that she would not exhaust herself. Once at the top, she stepped out and glanced around at the land.

Lek could be seen below on the green, doing push ups.

Miyuki watched him, sighing heavily. She knew Alex was right - She should just tell Lek. What was the worst that could happen? He'll reject you because you're a fur covered fox woman that was used by at least four men and is tarnished due to it. Also, he's in love with another woman. She thought negatively.

"I should, though…" So, with some determination, she went back down to speak to Lek. Though, it would take a bit with all her breaks.

Lek had finished his morning exercise and was now washing off by dashing buckets of water on his face and chest. His stomach growled with hunger.

Finding him like that, Miyuki was very thankful for her fur hiding the fresh blush on her face. “Hungry?” She asked, hearing the growling hunger.

“Hi, good morning Miyuki.” Lek greeted, wiping his face dry before pulling his shirt on. “I’m starving.”

“There’s food in the dining hall,” She replied, silently telling herself just to say it - say how she felt. It’s been a fucking month, damn it! Yet, she couldn’t push the words out. “Want some company? I already ate, but…uhm…I don’t mind sitting and chatting with you.”

“Sure, if you don’t have something else to be doing.” Lek said, heading towards the dining hall. “How are you?”

“I don’t,” Miyuki said and walked next to him. “Oh, I’m well enough for a pregnant woman.” A soft laugh followed her words. “I keep forgetting to take my nighttime nausea medicine and wake up to morning sickness.” Her eyes glanced at him, taking in his handsome frame and the way he always seemed to walk with a strange confidence he was unaware of.

“Hopefully you’ll remember it tonight. Do you want me to remind you?” Lek offered, glancing back at the kitsune with some concern. Pinja had terrible morning sickness and lost a lot of weight from it.

“That might be helpful…” Miyuki’s tail twitched, surprised at his offer. “Uhm…Lek…” Stopping in her tracks, she bit at her bottom lip. Just say it. Just say it!

Lek stopped walking and looked at Miyuki worriedly. “How is Pinja? Is she okay?” Miyuki visited Pinja often and was helping her get better so maybe Lek could be forgiven for his thoughts automatically going to Pinja.

Flinching, Miyuki went silent. “Maybe you should go eat with the others on your own…” She didn’t want to talk about Pinja because Pinja was the same. She was healing physically, but mentally…only women were allowed near and even that was stretching it. “I need to rest.” Turning, she made a beeline for her room.

“Hey- is something wrong?” Lek started to ask but Miyuki was already gone. Frowning, Lek made his way to the Dining Hall, too worried to have much of an appetite.